Flame Robin

‘Robin’ has its origins in England pre 14^th century. Some time during the 14^th century, the term ‘red-breast’ was used and eventually the two combined into ‘Robin Red Breast’. In fact, our ‘red’ robins are not at all related to the English robin, similar as though they may appear.

 

The Flame Robin’s scientific name is Petroica phoenicia. Petroica = rock dweller and phoenicia = scarlet or purple-red, thus the ‘scarlet rock dweller’. In alpine regions, the Flame Robin is often encountered on top of a rock and sometimes they nest in a crevice of a rocky bank.

Female 'Scarlet Rock Dweller' and habitat

 

The Flame Robin is endemic to south eastern Australia. In the summer, the birds like to move up to the ‘high country’ where they breed. In winter, Flame Robins relocate back down to the lower, drier and flatter country. Some references suggest that some birds migrate across Bass Strait to southern Victoria in winter.

 

Male Flame Robin Mt St Gwinear

It is not unusual in winter to see Flame Robins in paddocks close to urban areas provided there is some tree cover nearby.

 

Settlement Rd Drouin

Like other robins, the Flame Robin is a ‘perch and pounce’ feeder whose diet consists largely of insects taken on or close to ground level. Generally, they prefer open grasslands rather than dense understorey. Often, small parties of Flame Robins are encountered with other birds that prefer similar feeding conditions such as Yellow-rumped Thornbills.

 

Not long fledged

 

Sometimes confused with the Scarlet Robin, the Flame Robin is quickly identified by its ‘flame-red’ belly chest and throat. Scarlet Robins have a black throat. The red extends further down the belly in the Flame Robin. Scarlet Robins have a larger white forehead patch.

 

Left: Flame Robin    Right: Scarlet Robin

 Female Flame Robins are much more subdued but no less charming. Their call is variously described as a tinny or a lilting ‘chrip-a-chip, chrip-a-chip, …’.

 

Female Flame Robin Woodside

The Baw Baw Plateau is a good location to find Flame Robins in summer. During winter, flames can be seen in paddocks in West and South Gippsland, Westernport, Woodside, etc.